


OF THE 




THE 



Change of tfje Bean, Brigade : 



A 



HUMOROUS DESCRIPTION 



OF THE 



(S^aniL S^ea^-Gafi^ ©JourQarne^t 



FOR THE 



TONA WANDA NEWS GOLD BADGE 



AND 



CHAMPIONSHIP OE NEW YORK, 

AT TONAWANDA, APRIL 15, 13B4 
Under the auspices of Scott Post No. 129, G. A. R. 

IN 

4- RGROKJ * BALLAD +VGRS;e,* 



/ £l£ofw*su\j 



BY 

John IR,. Baelow 






Entered according to act of Congress in the year 1884, 

By John R. Barlow, 

In the office of the Librarian of Congress at Washington. 



Press ol the Niagara Falls Gazette. 




,|a?;p of tin §tm Mmit 



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For years among the savants 

It was a mooted theme 
Whether as a fruit or berry, 

Should be classed the goodly bean ; 
But while the question lingered 

In controversial mist, 
It was mustered in the Army, 

Upon the ration list. 



A staple dish it soon became, 

And claimed the soldier's care, 
Whate'er he lacked, be sure the bean 

Still graced his bill of fare. 
Or east or west, on land or sea, 

Howe'er the diet changed, 
The soldier and his dish of beans 

Was never yet estranged. 



CHARGE OF Till: BEAN BRIGADE 

I n ( >ld Virginia's sandy groves 

Where Potomac glides free, 
Or where the Cumberland winds 'mong 

The hills of Tennessee, 
< >r where the mighty Mississip 

Down gulfward takes his course, 
Where'er the soldier went, his beans 

Must follow hi 11 1 perforce. 



In camp, or field, or hospital, 

HoweVr his steps might bend, 
Still there to meet his hungry need 

The bean his steps attend : 
And even if to prison pen, 

War's fortune did pursue, 
Though meagre be the fare displayed, 

The bean he still mighl view. 



And when you eon historic page 

For valorous deeds, he sure 
The solid bean took form in that 

Which nerved him to endure 
'The weary march, the sleepless nights, 

The long contested field, 
That stubborn will which made him die 

IJut would not let him yield. 



CHARGE OF THE BEAN BRIGADE. 5 

And many a hardy veteran 

Can yet a tale unfold 
Of midnight raid, of rush and rout, 

Of open charge more bold, 
Of fair matched field, hard fought and won 

By no unseemly means, 
But just because their breakfast had 

Been made on Pork and Beans. 



B.ut when the cruel war was o'er, 

The boys came home in glee, 
Proud of their triumph, glad again 

To feel that they were free ; 
They left behind war's bloody field, 

Its triumphs and its woes, 
To seek again as citizens, 

In private life, repose. 



Forgotten bivouac, camp and march, 

Forgot the battle's roar, 
Forgotten everything in joy 

Of seing home once more ; 
And, oh, that I should thus proclaim, 

'Mong sweet home coming scenes, 
Their hearts for once turned traitor when 

Thev all forgot their beans. 



6 CHARGE <>F THE BEAN BRIGADE. 

But not for long, thai could not be, 
Though tempting dainties graced 

Each sumptuous table laid for them, 
By fitting welcome i raced : 

For still through all the grand menu 
( )f viands rich and rare, 

The thought o'erpowering forced itself 

- Of something lacking there. 



Then each one took himself to task, 

To seek the unknown cause, 
Why groaning plenty could not fill 

Their gorged, insatiate maws. 
At length a morning beam of thought 

Was flashed upon the scene, 
And every soldier woke to find 

He missed his Army Bean. 



Then hungry longing filled his heart. 

And scarce could he refrain 
Till willing housewife had prepared 

The longed for dish again. 

But why that disappointed look, 
Which flits across Ins face"/ 

In every line and feature now 
I dissatisfaction trace. 



CHARGE OF THE BEAN BRIGADE. 

The beans were there, but yet for all 

They did not meet with favor, 
For oh they could not fill the bill, 

They lacked the " Army flavor." 
Then each to each his trouble told, 

And as the tale they hearkened, 
Still more intense the longing grew, 

And more their faces darkened. 



Then once a squad of veterans met, 

And bold was their resolve, 
The severing breach of former rank 

Thenceforward to dissolve, 
If but once more, as oft of yore, 

Remembering other scenes, 
The could again together cook 

And eat their dish of beans. 



From this resolve so firm and bold 

What rich return is seen, 
If soldiers ever swear at all 

They should swear by the bean ; 
For from that wish and that resolve, 

Sprang every veteran's boast, 
All hail the heroes ! for they were 

The first Grand Army Post. 



CHARGE OF THE BEAN BRIGADE. 

And soon in emulative zeal 

Sprang up on every Hand 
Posl after Post, lill myraids now 

Are scattered through the land ; 
And in remembrance of the days 

< rrown dcai- with passing time, 
In every lost the arms are stacked, 

And ruddy camp-fires shine. 



And ever in the camp-fires' glow, 

While joyful comrades meet. 
The laden table gives them cheer, 

They drink and smoke and eat; 
And rest assured, no camp-fire now 

To bring full joy were able. 
Unless in royal state appeared 

The Beans upon the table. 



And round each fire be sure appears 

Some hard-shell story-teller, 
Who claims thai he can eat more bean* 

Than any other " feller " ; 
And this assertion to confirm, 

Tells guttapercha stori< 
( )f other ( Jomrades floored, while he, 

Still in his t riumph glorii - 



CHARGE OF THE BEAN BRIGADE. i) 

Now that would do, were all content 

To sit and listen to it, 
And think, to hear the fellow spout, 

That may be he could do it, 
But when a score or so, you know, 

Of other chaps concluded 
That they could wrestle Pork and Beans, 

And would not be deluded 



Into the thought that there was aught 

Of gastronomic mention, 
Endowed to shine in this same line 

Beyond their stomach's tension, 
Why, then, you see, there's bound to be 

Fun, rushing and uproarous, 
While every comrade's claim fills in 

The double shotted chorus. 



Now this is how we found the case 

When Huggins told his stories, 
And claimed how often he'd come off 

Triumphant and victorious. 
For Goodrich would not have it so, 

And Fisher, he declared 
That he could eat more beans himself 

Than ever Huggins dared. 



Id CHARGE OF THE BEAN BRIGADE. 

Then from the City of the Locks 

A warlike cry comes ringing, 
And Palmer claims that he, as yet. 

The fork and spoon is swinging. 
Then from Suspension Bridge a yell, 

•• I [old on ! this is no straggler ! " 
" Hello!" says Low, " Why, don't you know 

Thai I am here? and Flagler?" 



And borne upon the rushing breeze, 

A voice comes o'er the distance, 
From Akron far, as note of war, 

And Richards makes resistance. 
But yet again, a louder strain, 

Lord help the lungs thai risk it, 
From Buffalo the breezes blow. 

And Stambach claims the biscuit. 



And from Chautauqua's crystal lake. 

\\ nere Godly hosts are camping, 
Loud, Colburn send- a greeting grim, 

His former triumphs vaunting. 
And from ( Ontario's pebbly shore, 

Another < cho waking, 
High o'er the surge, Stout sounds t he dirge 

That set- bean eaters quaking. 



CHARGE OF THE BEAN BRIGADE. 11 

Loud rang the cry on every side, 

Contention still grew warmer, 
Each sought the controversial war 

Encased in wordy armor; 
And none would yield contested field, 

And many bouts were numbered, 
Yet still upon contested ground 

The mooted question slumbered. 



Until at length, oh, happy thought ! 

The Tonawanda News Man, 
With mighty heart, and loth to see 

Man wantonly abuse man, 
Conceived a glorious plan, to which 

His energies all bending, 
Proclaimed a mighty Tournament 

. To give the question ending. 



And as in famous jousts of old 

The Prince's guerdon rises, 
With lavish hand and purse prepared 

For winning Knighthood, prizes : 
The first a Golden Badge to grace 

The gormandizing sinner 
Who, from that memorable fray 

Should rise acknowledged winner. 



[2 CHARGE OF THE BEAN BRIGADE. 

Ami prizes were prepared for those 

Who fastest ate, and slowest, 
Another prize for him whose beans 

In quantity stood lowest; 
And one for him most graceful in 

This model mode of charging, 
And one for Knight most awkwardly 

Accomplishing his gorging. 



Then loud the herald's voice was heard, 

Through all the land proclaiming 
The glorious fact, the very date 

The day of Tournay naming. 
Then rose the mighty of the land, 

Famed for prodigious eating, 
And vowed they'd gird their armor on 

And triumph at the meeting. 



Bright rose the sun : his beams shone on 

A glorious day for Tournay; 
But not on burnished shield or spear. 

They didn't do it that way ; 
Bui where the lamps of evening shone. 

For such affair more fitted, 
Around a gay and festive board 

Were Knights contending pitted. 



4 



CHARGE OF THE BEAN BRIGADE. 13 

And these are they who came that day 

To eat their way to glory, 
To trace their names upon the page 

Of future fame and story : 
First, Tonawanda, loalh to lose 

The Badge in such a hurry, 
Builds high her hopes to win upon 

Her Baker and her Murray. 



Her Goodrich entered in the lists, 

In hopes to vanquish Huggins, 
But when Doc. failed to come to time, 

He called the game on muggins; 
And said he could not lend himself 

To any such connival, 
If Doc. withdrew his gage, why he'd 

Not tilt with other rival. 



But Lockport, sure to win the badge — 

In confidence they tell us — 
As doughty champions they advance 

Their Ticknor and their Ellis ; 
Lest perad venture they might meet 

Knights worthy of their mettle, 
They send their Palmer, never yet 

Unhorsed in such a battle. 



1 I CHARGE OF THE BEAN BRIGADE. 

From where ( Jhautauqua's purest air 

( )Vr Kennedy blows freely, 
In fittesl form for such affray, 

( lomes ( Jolburn, ( Hark and Ely. 
And Akron, bent to yet cement 

The Badge upon her standard. 
Her Richards and her Goslin sends 

To represent her van-guard. 



From Buffalo a voice is heard 

Enquiring, "WaVer mas'er? 
We're bound to "get that Badge, you bet ! " 

We've sent down Mathew Wasser." 
Sends Hartland, Healand ; Olcott, Stout : 

And Albion, Herdendorf; 
And Clarence sends Prince Humbert down 

To sweep the honors off. 



And from the Huh of all the huh-. 

Where beans are not a dainty. 
But held a Sunday morning least 

And handed round in plenty : 
Conies Garvie, subsidized and sent 

To Tonawanda's Tournay ; 
The unknown Knight, with spotless shield. 

For triumph made the journey. 



CHARGE OF THE BEAN BRIGADE. 15 

Now all prepared, the beans were weighed 

And duly handed round, 
On trusty scales that tipped each plate 

Exactly at a pound ; 
And by consent of tilting Knights, 

To guide the glittering maze, 
Lord Goodrich mounts the dias throne, 

The Prince's Standard sways. 



(Ufie ©fiarg 



arge. 

As on the dias, Goodrich stood, 

And marked each warrior's eager mood, 

With fork -lance poised on high, 
He noted well each heaving breast 
That burned to do his level best, 
To rise triumphant from the test 

The pride of every eye. 
He marked the timepiece on the wall, 
To catch the moment he might call 
The slogan cry : Upon them all ! 

Let every fork-lance fly ! 
And eager breathed the waiting throng, 
As slow the moments creep along 

That bridges o'er the time ; 



16 CHARGE OF THE BEAN BRIGADE. 

Bui now, 1 nit now. each couchant lance 
In gleaming lights doth quivering glance, 

The moment comes sublime. 



Forward ! — The words rang loud and high. 
Charge! — It was the old war eagle cry. 
And not a veteran made reply, 
But lightning gleaming in his eye 

Looked where the beans were laid. 
The rattle of the spoon and fork, 
The flourished knife above the pork, 
Showed well the rush of hottest work, 

Where first the charge was made. 
Now to the charge ! stand back ! stand back ! 
Lei pacing sentries clear the track 

And give them elbow room. 
Now see them ride, and turn, and wheel, 
While foemen worthy of their steel 
The glories of the moment feel 

That lights them to their doom. 



Now o'er the Held with dash and skur, 
With tightened rein and active spur, 
Ride madly on to meet the shock, 
Then clash, and in their saddles rock : 
Then wheel, and turn, and clash again. 



CHARGE OF THE BEAIS BRIGADE. 17 

While o'er the now resounding plain, 
Rings out the cry of Knight and 'Squire. 
And still their crys ring high, and higher, 
And lance and shield in contact come, 
And lance-shafts bend, and whir, and hum, 

And tremble in the hand. 
Then on again! see Palmer ride, 
While Baker gallops at' his side ; 
See Ellis, eager, bending low, 
His breast upon his saddle bow. 

His lance poised in his hand. 

See Wasser charge a gallant knight, 
Draw blood and sicken at the sight, 
His Esquire's cheek too, blanching white 

To feel they cannot win. 
Hear Clark and Ely's rallying cry, 
See Garvie's lance untrammeled fly, 
See Richards with brave Humbert vie, 

Hear Stout above the din. 
Now hotter still the tilts become, 
At ring of bugle, beat of drum, 
And once again the lances fly ; 
There breaks a lance ; no more will try 

Prince Humbert for the prize. 
See Ely reel and writhe with pain ; 
And Richards ne'er will fight again 

Where Stout the tilting tries. 



CHARGE OF THE BEAN BRIGADE. 

Now spur and lance, give o'er, give o'er ; 
And turn, and wheel, and charge no more 

Till time be called again ; 
Bu1 let each Knight at once repair 
To sylvan shade, and tarry there 

Tdl they their wind shall gain. 



Now rest ye gallant Knights, who from 
The first bout doth so gaily come. 
What? Palmer! are you still so fresh 
That o'er the field you gaily dash? 
Oh, better save your wind and strength, 
You yet may need them ere the length 

Of this day's course you run. 
See Ellis mount his steed, and show 
Thai he can flap his wings and crow. 
Oh, many a Knight as brave as thou, 
Who rode as gay as you ride now. 
Low in the dust did helmet bow 

Ere yet the day was done. 



Now on again ! for time is cried : 
Now boldly charge, and gaily ride: 
This bout your mettle will have tried 

Yet harder than the first. 
They ride ami charge with might and main. 



CHARGE OF THE BEAN BRIGADE. 19 

Then turn, and wheel, and charge again, 
And Knights unhorsed upon the plain 

Lie groaning like to burst. 
There Ticknor falls ; there Healand, too ; 
And Herdendorf is lost to view ; 

And Schopf is down as well. 
There ride ! for if to win, they must 
Ride through the rolling clouds of dust, 

There Clark and Ellis fell. 



Ride lightly now; the bout is o'er; 
Skur to the woods and blow once more, 

Get all the wind you can ; 
You've bravely done, still bravely do, 
Those who another bout go through 
Unhorsed, unscathed, may stand a show 

To be the winning man. 
But many a one shall weep for this, 
And hand on stomach wildly press ; 
And many a form in colic bent 
Shall groan to give his feelings vent; 
And whistling of the balls now spent 

Shall fall upon the ear ; 
And o'er the field shall sweep the wind, 
And many a groan be hoard behind, 
As bummers search, and relics find 

Upon the field of war. 



20 CHARGE OF THE BEAN BRIGADE. 

Again ! again ! spur on ! spur on ! 
A.s yet the guerdon is do1 won. 
Ride! Baker! ride! See Stout fall back, 
Now Garvie follows in the wrack; 
For honor of old Boston Town 
Ne'er let you gaudy pennant down. 

But graceful lead the fray. 
See Colburn set his lance in rest, 
They loudest cheer who cheer the last, 
See how his tilts come thick and fast, 
His soul upon the die seems cast, 

To charge and win the day. 



But, hold ! strike not another blow ! 
Remaining Knights ride easy, now. 
Reserve your [tower, but one more bout, 
And he who puts the rest to rout, 

Rides Champion from the field. 
Breathe long and slow, nor vainly throw 
Your strength in useless feats, to show 

That your condition's prime; 
Of hottest work you'll get your fill : 
Then, at it with redoubled will. 

When ( roodrich last calls time, 
Set every muscle, firm and tense. 
Till hard with lance, and for defence 

Turn ready hand and shield. 



CHARGE OF THE BEAN BRIGADE 21 

Now, forward every lance and shield ! 
The champion rides upon the field; 
But every other Knight, full low 
Must lie, ere he good claim can show 

To guerdon, as his right. 
Now, forward, all! on every side! 
Ride! Tonawanda's champion's, ride! 
On, Murray, on ! Charge, Baker, charge ! 
See Palmer still his belt enlarge, 
While Colburn now takes up the targe 

To triumph in the fight. 
Oh, never let the tale be told, 
That Tonawanda's champions bold, 
Had forms so shrunk, they could not hold 

The winning plate of beans. 



Wail ! for bean-eating Boston Town ; 
At last her graceful champion's down. 
Wail ! Wasser, lost for Buffalo ; 
By Colburn 's sturdy, trenchard blow, 
Prone in the dust he lieth low, 

And writhing in his pains. 
Now, Baker, Murray, side by side, 
Against the Colburn turn the tide. 
See Palmer striving faintly now, 
But ere he falls, one desperate blow, 

And Murray's triumph wanes. 



'I'l CHARGE OF THE BEAN BRIGADE. 

Now. Baker, every nerve employ, 
And prove thyself no stripling boy, 
( Iharge on 1 1 1 * - < 'olburn ! once for all : 
Or you or he, this tilt must fall ; 
This latest effort heralds all, 

< >r you or he must down. 
They charge each other, might and main, 
And Colburn's helmet's cleft in twain, 
He strives to rally, all in vain, 
His steed without a guiding rein 
Flees riderless the fatal plain ; 

And Baker rides alone, 
Triumphant, to the Prince's throne, 
And him the Champion, all must own, 
For on his brow the laurel thrown 

Proclaims that he has won. 



Loud sound the noble champion's praise. 
Who thus at home has kept the bays. 
To be the theme of many lays 

In ages yet to come. 
And old Scott Post need never shirk 
From any kind of heavy work, 
While such a Knight of spoon and fork 

I alls Tonawanda home. 



-*&&*- 



CHARGE OF THE BEAN BRIGADE. 

When all was o'er, and cheers no more 

Made roof and rafters ring, 
Before the throne Prince Goodrich did 

The " Baker Pacha " bring ; 
And for the fact that lie had packed 

Six pounds of beans away, 
With pride, and care 'twas his to wear 

The Champion's Badge for aye. 



It boots me not to say aught more, 

Nor tell, if I were able, 
How Baker, when the tilt was o'er, 

Sat down at supper table, 
And ate a meal would put to blush 

The stomach of a Tramp, 
And 'twould be useless, too, to note 

The coffee that he drank. 



Nor think we there will e'er be cause 

To call the Badge in question, 
For few would rashly care to test 

Such powers of digestion ; 
Since he has fully proved that none 

To wear the Badge is fitter ; 
And while he lives, Scott Post may claim 

The Champion Bean Eater. 



23 



24 CHARGE OF THE BEAN BRIGADE 



-ojHjc 



I have told the story truly, 

As all stories should be told ; 
'Twill be handed down in glory 

Like the famous jousts of old ; 
And still among the comrades, 

Shall the hero's fame unfold, 
Till the last survivor answers 

To the final " call of roll." 



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